Putting the Flag in the Sand: Dr. Katie Pekel on Culturally Responsive School Leadership

Putting the Flag in the Sand: Dr. Katie Pekel on Culturally Responsive School Leadership

In this episode of Equity Unlocked, Dr. Katie Pekel, Executive Director of Educational Leadership at the University of Minnesota, reflects on her long-standing work with Dr. Muhammad Khalifa and the development of the Culturally Responsive School Leadership Academy. Drawing on her experience as a K–12 teacher and principal, principal development leader, and higher education administrator, Dr. Pekel discusses what school leaders are facing in the current political climate, including backlash against equity work and the loss of key educational resources and funding. She offers guidance for leaders seeking to stay grounded, engage communities with humility, and keep student humanity at the center of culturally responsive leadership. Access the show notes at crsli.org/blog [https://crsli.org/blog]

Schools as Sacred Spaces: A Conversation with Antiracist Leader Dr. Patrick Duffy

In this episode of Equity Unlocked [https://www.crsli.org/podcast], Dr. Patrick Duffy, author of Becoming an Antiracist School Leader: Dare to Be Real [https://www.tcpress.com/becoming-an-antiracist-school-leader-9780807767863], reflects on the personal experiences and professional journey that shaped his approach to antiracist and culturally responsive leadership. He discusses key tenets from his leadership framework, including the need for adult collaboration focused on racial equity, authentic family and community partnership, and the belief that schools can and should be safe and sacred spaces where students and educators can bring their full identities. Dr. Duffy also shares how the tragic loss of his daughter and her grandfather informed his forthcoming book, Schools at the Center, and deepened his thinking about schools as civic and spiritual centers that can strengthen democracy through substantive integration across race, class, culture, and faith. Throughout the conversation, he offers guidance for leaders navigating political backlash and "pendulum shifts," emphasizing self-knowledge, reflection, truth-telling, and building systems capable of outlasting a single leader. He closes by describing his upcoming work through the Becoming Leadership Group and a new Teachers College Press summit series designed to connect students and educators, reclaim the meaning of equity work, and turn this moment into a movement. Find out more at crsli.org/blog. [https://www.crsli.org/blog/sacredspaces]

TEECH: A Third Space for Community-Connected Educators

In this episode of Equity Unlocked [https://www.crsli.org/podcast], we hear from four Twin Cities educators who talk honestly about what it means to teach in today's political and social climate. The teachers featured in this episode are participants in the TEECH program, a nonprofit founded by Dr. Muhammad Khalifa with the mission to develop community connected educators. The name "TEECH" is an acronym that stands for Teaching for Equity, Empowerment and Community Healing. Hosted by Kandace Logan, Executive Director of TEECH, the group discusses the real challenges culturally responsive teachers are facing in their school communities today, especially in this political climate. From multilingual classrooms and refugee communities to identity, safety, and student organizing, this conversation centers the lived realities of teachers who are committed to culturally responsive, community-connected practice. Together, they reflect on the power of finding a "third space" for educators and what school leaders need to understand if they want to truly support teachers doing equity-centered work. They not only explore how they're supporting students and families, but also their own wellbeing by finding ways to sustain themselves through the TEECH program. Learn more about the TEECH program and discover how you can partner with TEECH at teeching.org [https://www.teeching.org/]. Find out more about this episode in the show notes at crsli.org/blog. [https://www.crsli.org/blog]

The Way Forward: PLC at Work® and the Bright Future of Education with Dr. Anthony Muhammad

In this episode of Equity Unlocked, Dr. Muhammad Khalifa sits down with longtime colleague Dr. Anthony Muhammad for a reflective and forward-looking conversation centered on Dr. Muhammad's latest book, The Way Forward: PLC at Work and the Bright Future of Education [https://www.solutiontree.com/the-way-forward.html]. The discussion explores what it truly means to implement professional learning communities in ways that advance equity rather than compliance. Dr. Muhammad reflects on the historical roots of schooling, the persistence of surface-level reform, and the dangers of knowing better without doing better. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, he offers guidance for school and district leaders who are navigating the current political, cultural, and moral challenges facing equity-centered work in education. You can find out more about this episode in the show notes at crsli.org/blog [https://www.crsli.org/blog].

"Doing the Work" with Drs. Ann Ishimaru and Decoteau Irby

In this episode, Dr. Muhammad Khalifa sits down with Dr. Ann Ishimaru and Dr. Decoteau Irby to discuss their new edited book, Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change [https://www.tcpress.com/doing-the-work-of-equity-leadership-for-justice-and-systems-change-9780807787489]. If you've been following the scholarship in this space, you know both Ann and Decoteau as long-time leaders in community-engaged research, critical leadership studies, and racial equity in education. Their new book brings together a wide range of scholars — voices from across the field — to offer grounded, practitioner-focused insights into how wecontinue to do the work of equity leadership in today's climate. Find out more about this episode by checking out the show notes at crsli.org/blog [https://www.crsli.org/blog].